Charles Ellicott Commentary John 14:12

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto the Father." — John 14:12 (ASV)

Verily, verily, I say unto you.—Compare Note on John 1:51.

He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also.—He who by faith becomes one with the Son will have the Son, and therefore also the Father, dwelling in him (John 14:11; John 14:20; John 14:23), and will himself become an instrument through which God, who dwells in him, will carry into effect His own works. He will, therefore, do works of the same kind as those which the Son Himself does.

And greater works than these shall he do.—Compare Notes on John 5:20, and on Matthew 21:21-22. The explanation of these greater works is not to be sought in the individual instances of miraculous power exercised by the apostles, but in the whole work of the Church. The Day of Pentecost witnessed the first fulfillment of this prophecy, but it has been fulfilled also in every great moral and spiritual victory.

Every revival of a truly religious spirit has been an instance of it; every mission field has been a witness to it. In every child of man brought to see the Father, and to know the Father’s love as revealed in Jesus Christ, there has been a work such as He did.

In the worldwide extent of Christianity, there is a work greater even than any which He Himself did in the flesh. He left His kingdom as one of the smallest influences on the earth, but it has grown up as a mighty power over all the kingdoms of the world, and all that is purest and best in civilization and culture has found shelter in its branches.

Because I go unto my Father.—The better reading is, because I go unto the Father. These words are to be connected not with one clause only, but with all the earlier parts of the verse. They are the reason why the believer will do the works that Christ does, as well as the reason why he will do greater works.

The earthly work of Christ will have ceased, and He will have gone to the Father. The believers will then be His representatives on earth, as He will be their representative in heaven. Therefore they will do His works, and the works will be greater because He will be at the Father’s right hand, and will do whatever they ask in His name.